Shaping

Definition

Shaping refers to gradually teaching new behaviors through reinforcement until the target behavior is achieved.

Related terms

Successive Approximations:

Small steps in behavior, one after the other, that lead to a particular goal behavior.

Differential Reinforcement: The implementation of reinforcing only the appropriate response (or behavior you want to increase) and applying extinction to all other responses.

Chaining:

A sequence of behaviors where each step is conditioned as a stimulus for the next.